body&language& - englishcom2012.files.wordpress.com€¦ · 20/01/13 1...
Post on 01-May-2020
6 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
20/01/13
1
Body Language
Meaning and communica5on
• When we communicate with other people it is not only our words that contain the meaning.
• Most of what we communicate comes 'non-‐verbal language’: – Intona5on; tone of voice – facial expressions; hand gestures; body posi5ons
20/01/13
2
Body Language
Adapted from: hJp://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-‐bin/lessons/index.pl?noframes;read=917
The power in your hands….
• The hands have been the most important tools in human evolution
• There are more connections between the brain and the hands than between any other body part
• Hands are one of the most important means by which we communicate non-verbally
20/01/13
3
Some examples
Open palms = non threat • Humans generally use their palms to show submission or surrender, they are unarmed and therefore are coming in peace.
• If a person is being open they'll expose their palms
20/01/13
4
Palm-down = authority Palms turned downwards project immediate authority.
Palm-Closed-Finger-Pointed = 'Do it or else!'
• the pointed finger is used like a symbolic club with which the speaker figura5vely beats his listeners into submission
it is one of the most annoying gestures anyone can use while speaking
20/01/13
5
Crossed arms = closure for defence
• By folding arms across the chest, a barrier is formed that is an unconscious aJempt to block out what we perceive threat or undesirable circumstances.
When you fold your arms your credibility drama5cally reduces
About gestures
• Some gestures are shared by human beings: – Ex.: Smiling as a sign of happiness or pleasure.
• Some gestures are widely used, but may not mean the same in every culture – Ex.: poin5ng, waving, shaking or nodding the head
20/01/13
6
Culture specific gestures
Many non-‐verbal gestures are 'culture specific’
can cause misunderstandings between people from different backgrounds
An example: Nodding head in India
• In most cultures, nodding head is used to mean ‘no’
• In India, people nod their heads to show agreement à may give rise to misunderstanding in intercultural communica5on
20/01/13
7
An example: Nodding head in India
The meaning of Italian Gestures
Genre(s) on the Move Naples, 9-11 December 2009
Italians are well known interna5onally for using their hands a lot when they speak Italians assume that the meaning of their gestures is also understood by other language speakers. However, most Italian gestures are meaningless to a non-‐Italian, or carry a completely different meaning in another language.
20/01/13
8
Some examples: some gestures that can get Italians
in trouble…
The V sign
• In Italian can be used to mean 2… • In Bri5sh English, with the palm turned outward, it is a sign for victory and success, or for peace
• With the palm turned inward, it is a very offensive sign, very similar to flipping the finger.
20/01/13
9
The A-‐Ok sign
• It is used in American and the UK to mean ‘great’, absolutely fine
• In Italian it can be used to mean ‘zero’
Careful how you count in English!!
Genre(s) on the Move Naples, 9-11 December 2009
She’s saying ‘two’ but….
Is she aware of the meaning her gesture can have?
20/01/13
10
The ‘Corna’
• Americans use it to mean “rock on”, or in support of the University of Texas in Aus5n (known as the “Hook ‘em Horns”) or of the Texas Longhorn football team.
• In Italian it means “cuckold” (or rather, “your wife is chea7ng on you”)
Is Berlusconi also a Longhorns fan?
The following video is made to teach English speakers what Italian
gestures mean….
20/01/13
11
It is useful to us to understand that all these gestures
DO NOT MEAN ANYTHING IN ENGLISH!!
So, don’t expect people to understand them when you’re
speaking English…
hJp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVCuyrPk7P4
top related